Incontinence
Medicine for Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control and the unintentional passing of urine. It's a common problem thought to affect millions of people. Such a problem usually happens to people when they age. That said, if incontinence affects your daily life and activities, you should consult a healthcare practitioner to be considered for a medicine for incontinence.
Types of urinary incontinence and their causes
• Stress incontinence
In this, urine leaks when the bladder is under pressure. Such a thing may happen while coughing or laughing. This happens due to weakened or damaged muscles - such as the pelvic floor muscles or the urethral sphincter.
• Urge (urgency) incontinence
In this, urine leaks when experiencing a sudden, intense urge to pee, or shortly afterward. This typically results from overactivity of the detrusor muscles that control the bladder.
• Overflow incontinence
The inability to fully empty the bladder leads to frequent leaking, which is a chronic urinary retention problem. It happens due to an obstruction or blockage in the bladder.
• Total incontinence
This is when the bladder cannot store any urine, thus leading to constant or frequent leaking. Such a thing is caused by congenital issues, spinal injuries, or a fistula.
A few other things that can increase the chances of urinary incontinence include -
• Pregnancy and vaginal birth
• A family history of incontinence
• Obesity
Short-term causes of incontinence
• Infection inside your urinary tract, such as kidney, bladder, urethra, and the ureters, can cause pain, and increase the urge to pee more.
• Although you may be offered a medicine for incontinence for treating incontinence, incontinence can at times be a side effect of certain medications, such as diuretics and antidepressants.
• Certain drinks like alcohol and coffee can increase people’s urge to urinate more often. Once you stop drinking these as much, the symptoms for incontinence also slowly subside.
• Chronic constipation can also at times lead to bladder control issues, which in turn leads to incontinence.
Consulting a healthcare professional for the management of incontinence
Some people may feel a little uncomfortable discussing incontinence with a healthcare professional, but if the problem is affecting your quality of life, it’s important to reach out for medical advice and take as you may be considered for medicine for incontinence. At Pharmulous, you may be recommended to take Oxybutynin and Solifenacin to help manage your incontinence symptoms.
If not addressed in time, incontinence may impact the following.
• Restrict your daily activities and limit your social interactions
• May lead to more serious conditions/ problems
• Negatively impact your way of living and quality of life
• Increase the risk of falls in older adults as they rush to the toilet
Who is at a higher risk of incontinence?
As people grow older, the muscles that support the pelvic organs can weaken. Thus, the bladder and urethra have less support, which in turn leads to urine leakage. The chances of developing incontinence are higher in people who have a chronic health condition, have gone through menopause, have just given birth, have had a prostate cancer surgery, or have an enlarged prostate.
That said, incontinence is much more common in women than in men. This happens due to pregnancy, childbirth, and eventual menopause. Why? Well, because each of these events in a woman’s life can lead to bladder control issues, thus needing to be prescribed a medicine for incontinence.
Frequently asked questions
#1 How is incontinence usually diagnosed?
The diagnosis usually begins with a conversation with the doctor. Questions like ‘how often do you urinate’ or ‘how long have you been experiencing incontinence’ helps doctors figure out a pattern with your leakage. This is usually followed with collecting urine samples, an ultrasound of the bladder, and even a stress test.
#2 Do I need to make any lifestyle changes to manage incontinence?
At times, making minor changes in everyday life can help your incontinence. This includes exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, improving your diet, and changing some of your daily habits. In addition, a medicine for incontinence may help, but so do some of these changes in the first instance. Feel free to reach out to our experts for help.
#3 When should I see a doctor regarding incontinence?
Some people believe that incontinence is a part of ageing and an unavoidable issue, but in reality, it can be treated. If you find incontinence disturbing/ ruining your daily life, and causing you to miss out on things, you should definitely consult our doctors at Pharmulous.
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